Deputies find skeletal remains at Crescent Beach

St Johns County Sheriff David B. Shoar is asking Historic City News readers to come forward with any information they may have concerning the identity of skeletal remains discovered in a Crescent Beach sand dune … 25 years ago.

The remains were located 8/10’s of a mile north of the Crescent Beach ramp; about ten feet from the high tide level and about 2 1/2 feet below the dune level on April 11, 1985 by workers building a ramp across the sand dunes to the beach.

The medical examiner’s office ruled the death a homicide; although the decomposed condition of the remains made it impossible to determine the cause of death.

“These are the remains of a human being,” Shoar said. “People knew her, someone misses her, and at least one person knows exactly what happened to her.”

Based on forensic findings in an anthropological report obtained from the University of Florida in the 1980’s, scientists believe the victim was likely a 15 to 35 year-old, a white female, approximately 5’7” tall, with light brown or blonde hair.

Another clue comes from bones recovered from the burial site that show numerous healed fractures and three distinctive surgical burr holes in the skull. Prior to the victim’s death, it is possible that she had been involved in some type of accident where these injuries occurred.

A DNA profile was developed by the laboratory at the University of North Texas. If a possible victim can be developed, investigators are confident that they could make a positive identification.

A dental record report was also completed at the time of the discovery however future examination may be limited due to some of the teeth being broken in storage and travel.

“Someone knows the truth about what happened to this person between 1980 and 1984,” Cold Case Detective Sean Tice told Historic City News reporters.

According to Tice, no missing persons report matched the description of this victim. Tice believes that circumstances may have changed over the last 25 years that will allow the truth to be told.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is asked to contact Cold Case Detective Sean Tice at (904) 209-2192. You can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling CrimeStoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).